Sunderland were previously linked with a move for Reading’s Sam Baldock.
According to a report by Get Reading, Reading have placed striker Sam Baldock on the transfer list – a situation which could be of interest to Sunderland following their former links to the player.
Get Reading claim the Berkshire club have told Baldock not to report back with the first-team squad for pre-season this week as they plan on selling him alongside Chris Gunter and Jon Dadi Bodvarsson.
Baldock only joined the Royals 12 months ago. The Northern Echo claimed he was a Sunderland target, but the Black Cats missed out on a £1 million deal for him as he instead traded Brighton and Hove Albion for the Madejski Stadium.
But alongside fellow 2018 summer signing Marc McNulty, Baldock struggled to make an impact at Reading as he made just 15 Championship starts, despite scoring five goals and grabbing one assist.
The 30-year-old hit double figures during Brighton’s Championship promotion in 2016-17. He has plenty of pedigree, but Reading’s struggles have seemingly seen him become an unwanted figure in Berkshire.
Sunderland missed out on promotion to the Championship last term as they lost in the League One playoff final. A lack of goals largely played a part in Jack Ross’ side’s failure as they struggled to replace top-scorer Josh Maja who left the club in January.
Baldock could give the Black Cats the firepower needed to go one better this time around, with his last stint in League One seeing him net 24 goals in 45 outings for Bristol City as the Robins later secured promotion.
Baldock still has two years left on his Reading deal, but the latest news regarding the club’s soft transfer embargo for financial struggles suggests they are willing to sell him for a potential cut-price deal.
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